February 8th

Friday

2019

For our quick hits this week, we explore African-Americans in the tech world!

Photo courtesy of AfroTech

What can be done to get more funding for Black women-led startups?

As more Black women enter the startup world, many are struggling to secure venture capital funding compared to their white male counterparts. In 2017, women received nearly 2.2 percent of the $85 billion available in venture capital funding.According to the Project Diane2018 report by digitalundivided, the numbers were even smaller for Black women. Black women represented only .0006 percent of the $424.7 billion in total tech venture funding raised since 2009 and a majority of that funding was raised in 2017.

A Nigerian Company Introduces Pay-As-You-Cook Technology to Rwandans

A Nigerian- based tech company, Sky Rocket, through its founder, Oluwatobi Oyinlola introduced an innovation to reduce the use of forests as the main source of cooking energy. The Technology is called Pay-As-You-Cook, allowing consumers to buy cooking gas via Mobile Money.

The Cylinder gas was installed with a meter as a monitor of the quantity of the remaining gas used. Consumers who want to use the technology must pay for the service through Mobile Money.

OutMatch Acquires Video Interviewing Software, Wepow

OutMatch, the leader in predictive talent and culture analytics, recently acquired Wepow, a provider of video interviewing software and platforms that improve hiring outcomes. The reason behind the acuisition. Wepow’s technology further intensifies OutMatch’s platform of predictive talent solutions to identify and engage high-potential talent to drive business performance and profitability. This positions OutMatch as the clear market leader in talent solutions.

Wepow was founded in 2011, by Imo Udom and Jaime Romero. It’s live and pre-recorded interview experiences have been used by brands including Adidas, Fox, Virgin Atlantic, and Walmart. Clients love it because the technology brings speed and scalability to the interview process, connecting candidates and companies regardless of location. As a result, companies regain time, reduce costs, and recruit effectively.

Lyft is Giving Free Rides to Black History Sites for the Month of February

Ride- hailing giant Lyft is celebrating Black History Month by providing up to $10 in free ride credits to passengers traveling to Black History sites. Passengers can check out everything from the Apollo Theatre in Harlem to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Lyft is also offering rides to Black- owned business.

The Promotion comes as Lyft celebrates the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Black Girls Code, an organization aimed at diversifying the computer science field by education and providing camps to young Black girls.